You can obviously customize this to make it bigger or smaller. For each horizontal row, add or subtract 1"; for each vertical column, add or subtract 4". All other measurements should stay the same.

The shelves aren't as deep as the outer sides because I wanted the edge of the ink pad to stick out a little from the shelf. This leaves a little space between the pads and I think it makes it easier to remove them.

Using my quilting ruler, I drew pencil lines starting from one edge 3 3/4" long and 1" apart on each side panel. (If you want to make the shelf on top to hold reinkers, cut the top slot all the way from the front to the back. This is where the 'top' piece goes. If you don't want the top shelf, make your sides 1" shorter.) Then I cut a slot with a craft knife a littleless than 3/16" wide centered over each line. This allows for a snug fit, and in my opinion, requires less glue to hold it together. You can 'feel' how deep you make the cut, and just don't want to go through the back side of the foamboard. Once my slots were cut, I used a jewelry tweezer to slide along the bottom of the foam to remove it from the back side of the paper. You could use a small flat head screwdriver to do this, but I was lazy and didn't want to go to the garage to find one. Anything that is dull and about 3/16" wide will work. You can test your first slot by sticking the shelf in it to see how snug the fit is. Then adjust your slot width if necessary. Also make sure you mark your lines as mirror images on each end panel. I made the mistake of marking them the same and had to re-do it.

See how the side panels are mirror images of each other? The top slot goes all the way from front to back for the top to fit into. I also trimmed 3/16" of foam from the bottom edge of each panel for the bottom to fit into.

I used my quilting ruler as a guide when cutting with the craft knife which makes it really easy to line everything up. I tried a rotary cutter, and it didn't work, so craft knife it was. You will go through several blades as they tend to dull quickly. If you find that the foam pulls a little, and you aren't getting a clean cut, it's time to get a new blade. I used at least 3 blades for this project.

Now it is time to cut holes in the shelves for the vertical supports to fit through. The supports are a little less than 4" apart. (This is because the end of each shelf goes into slots on the side panels 3/16" on each end.) I measured my center line first - 12" from one end, then measured a tiny bit less than 4" for each of the other supports. Each slot is 1 1/4" long and a little less than 3/16" wide and centered in the shelf (1 1/4" from both the front and back). This time you will want to cut all the way through the foam board to make a hole. This is where the first dose of patience comes in. It takes a long time to cut those 60 little holes!

You will need to cut holes in the bottom panel in the same way. Just start the slot 1 1/4" from the back edge, and they will all line up.

The holes are centered on each shelf, but are 1 1/4" from the back edge of the bottom panel. See how they will all line up when assembled?

Now summon up some courage and patience, because it is time to start assembling. This is the most rewarding part, though, and you will be so excited when you see it start to take shape!

I did a dry run first, without hot glue, just to make sure it was going to fit together. Once I was satisfied with a few shelves in place, I disassembled it and started over with hot glue. I used a high heat glue gun. You have to act quickly, and have a few fractions of a second more to work with when you use high heat vs. low heat. You could try a low heat gun if you already have it, but even the high heat started to set before I was ready toward the end of assembly.

Working one at a time, place a small bead of glue around the very bottom of each vertical support strip, and place into the slots on the bottom panel. (Be sure to lift it up after every time to make sure you don't glue your project to the table. Don't ask me how I know to do that!)

This is what you should have at this point.

Now it is time to slide each shelf onto the supports. I tested most of the slots in the shelf, but if they are a little tight, just take it slow and easy pushing them down. After you get each shelf in place, measure all the way around to make sure it is level. Making sure they are evenly spaced is very important! I used the end panels as a guide for placement. Then run a small bead of glue around the vertical support/shelf junction. Add one shelf at a time, making sure it is spaced correctly before glueing.

Here, I have used the end panels as a spacing guide. Do not glue the end panels in place yet. You will do that after all the shelves are in place.

Continue adding shelves until they are all on the vertical supports. Here is where you will need your second dose of patience. You are going to glue each end panel on the shelves, and you must act very quickly once you apply the hot glue. I started each shelf about an inch or so into its corresponding slot, quickly ran a bead of glue in all the remaining slot areas, then carefully slid the panel the rest of the way onto the shelves. Do this for both end panels.

Now you will be ready to attach the top. I put glue in each end panel slot and on the top of each vertical support, and set the top in place. The front strip on the little top shelf measures 7/8" x 23 5/8". Glue it in place, and all that is left is the back panel.

I glued the back on in two steps by running glue on one side edge and only halfway across the top and bottom edges before putting the back in place. Then I ran glue on the remaining edges to attach the remaining half.

Ta-da! Wasn't that fun? You should be proud of yourself. I know I was!

If you run into any problems, or can't make sense of my directions, please let me know and I will try to help.

And just because, I have to say this... This is my own original design, including the measurements and directions. Please feel free to use it to make your own projects, but please don't copy or sell it for your own profit. Thank you.

I will be posting directions for my Copic marker cubbies next, and they are a lot less complicated. If you are going to make both, I would start with the Copic cubby, then tackle the ink pad holder.

Guess I should have posted directions for them first. What was I thinking?! Sheesh!

Thanks again for your interest, and I'll be back soon with Copic cubby directions.

THANK YOU.....sooooo much for the directions for the ink pad holder.....I will be gathering my foam board and craft blades, hot glue ........then I'll get started. This is just the best price on any stamp storage item.....I've ever seen. Money is tight for everyone....I rather buy more paper, ink and stamps than storage items.take care and thanks for sharing,Debbie :0)

I just wanted to say thanks for your directions in making this project. I have made one for my room and I'm so thankful that it only cost me $12.00 vs. $60.00+++. You've saved my budget!! I did want to let you know of a few problems that I had with the measurements. I had to use 4 sheets of the foam core board. Your directions say 2 and I could not figure out how you did it with only two! I'm wondering if you performed some magic in laying out the needed pieces! :) Also, I had to cut the vertical supports at 14". Again thanks for your help. To see a picture of my finished project, click here: http://scrappingwest.blogspot.com/2010/07/stamp-pad-holder.html I hope you don't mind, but I included a link on my post to your site for the directions!!!

Thanks for your message and thanks for letting me know that my comments weren't working. I think I've fixed it for now! Did you cut holes in the bottom of the holder? I did and when I did that, I needed the extra 1/4" on the vertical supports. I probably did something off! Thanks again and I look forward to your projects in the future!!!

I'm a little alte to the party, but I just wanted to thank you so much for these directions. I can;t wait to get som e foam board to try these out. I know my mom would love it if I made her a set too! THanks so much!

I, too just found this and it is sooo cool!! I just bought a bunch of foam board at the dollar store last night because I want to make a project storage unit ( I saw in a magazine where they had a cart on wheels like they use in bakeries with trays ) to store your unfinished projects ( I am in need of somewhere to store my projects -especially cards while the layers drying- (Stickles and dimensionals ). I can see that I will have to go get more foam board to make all the other projects too! Thanks for sharing your ideas - they are really neat and professional looking.

Thanks so much for these directions. I should have know better than to tackle this project with my lack of ability to cut straight. Anyway I tried it, it took forever, over all I had fun and my holder will work for mt needs. Even if all I can see is mistakes I made :o)

I was hoping to add this link to my post about making this project. Hope you don't mind.

I found an easier & faster way to make the slit-holes in the shelves! I marked where each cut should start & stop with a piercing tool (a large needle would work, too). Then, I slit it with my craft knife going from punched hole to punched hole, all the way through the board. After that I ran my large emery board through the slit a couple of times to make it just the right size, as Lo & behold my emery board is 3/16" thick! Worked perfectly! As a test I ran a scrap piece of 1 1/4" wide foam board through each slit, which evened out the ends & sides of the slit.

Just made this following your awesome directions! I modified it and it fits my space perfectly...so I am thrilled. It's not as perfect-looking at yours, but I am so thankful for it. It's a big step up from having all those ink pads thrown in a drawer. Thanks for sharing your time and talents. :)

I wonder if anyone reads these comments now. Anyway, I just made mine, using the directions and it worked! I made a 60 space one, to fit my BESTA shelves. Foam board was on sale for $1, so this cost me like 3 bucks!Notes: While I struggled w cutting everything straight and perfect, I thought I was doing OK, until it was time to put the back on! I ended up adding an inch to all of the back panel dimensions, just so I could get everything glued together and then just trim. The back corners still looked ugly, so I just covered those w wash tape! The hot glue is key--I didn't use a lot--definitely for putting the vertical supports into the bottom, and then on a few seams, and finally for the back piece.